The ancient Mayans were a remarkable civilization. They had a surprisingly advanced society for the time they existed in and were known for constructing wonderful pyramids that were highly detailed and very elaborate. A recent discovery in Guatemala is revealing more about how this ancient civilization practiced worship and gives us an interesting view into how many of the ancient Mayans may have viewed old age and their origin. Let’s take a look and find out.
Los Abuelos
Located in Guatemala, close to the important Uaxactun archaeological site, Los Abuelos has revealed a lot about how the ancient Mayans functioned as a society. The term Los Abuelos translates to ‘the grandparents’ and it gives us a very good clue as to what this archaeological site is all about. The ancient Mayans were a complex civilization that had a lot of very interesting beliefs and cultural practices. Los Abuelos gives us a good understanding of those practices.
The Grandparents
Archaeologists at the Guatemalan cultural ministry claim that the site dates back to roughly 800 BC, making it nearly 3,000 years old! The site seems to have been set up as some form of worship for the ancestors, which was revealed by two very well-preserved statues of what scientists believe depict elderly people. This has highlighted the fact that ancient Mayans believed strongly in the presence and worship of their ancient ancestors.
Ancient Beliefs
The ancient Mayans were a polytheistic culture, meaning that they believed in many different gods. One central idea of the religion of the ancient Mayans is that everything in the world is alive. They believed trees, rocks, and even animals all had souls from deities in them, which is what made them alive. Their main god, Itzamná, was believed to be the creator god from whom all life on Earth had sprung. However, recent discoveries prove that ancestor worship was a lot more important in Mayan culture than we previously thought.
A Big Find
The Los Abuelos site is quite large and spans roughly 16 km (just over 9 miles). This shows that cities or areas dedicated to ancestor worship were taken quite seriously by the ancient Mayans. Further evidence of a large temple, or pyramid, built at the site that’s 33 meters high (or 108 feet) shows that they invested a lot of time into the area and likely also the rituals that took place there. The site is surrounded by other significant archaeological sites in the area, detailing a thriving and interconnected series of towns or settlements.
Meticulous Planning
The site also shows signs of a culture that took pride in meticulous planning when it came to developing settlements or towns. The site has evidence of an intricate canal system that would have been used to help with irrigation and farming practices. The site also housed a number of sanctuaries that archaeologists believed were used for ritual and worship practices by the ancient Mayans. Scientists also believe that the site was of significant strategic value and could have operated as a center of trade or cultural exchange.
The Importance of Cultural Exchange
Cultural exchange was an important part of the Mayan culture. According to Lumen Learning, the ancient Mayans used to frequently trade with other cultures, like the Teotihuacan and Zapotec cultures. They would trade things like cacao, seashells, obsidian, salt, and jade. However, the most important part of these exchanges is that they would also focus on exchanging ideas, artistic styles, and even religious practices. This showed an advanced society that relied primarily on trade and exchange to thrive, rather than domination through warfare, although this was also an important part of Mayan culture.
The Urban Triangle
The area where Los Abuelos is situated also contains two other important sites close by, namely Petnal and Cambrayal. Archaeologists believe that these sites formed an important cultural triangle that gives the scientists a more in-depth view of how ancient Mayan life functioned during the pre-classical period (2000 BC – 250 BC). By studying these sites and how they were interconnected, scientists can pull back the veil on how ancient Mayans decided to build their towns and settlements and how they practiced things like trade.
Other Important Discoveries
In recent years, there have been a number of important discoveries detailing the ancient Mayans and their culture. For instance, a discovery in the remote region of the El Mirador jungle in Guatemala indicates that the ancient Mayans were some of the first people to implement roads between their settlements and towns. The discovery of over 400 different settlements all interconnected via a series of roads has been dubbed the ‘first freeway’ in terms of archaeological discoveries.
Not Violent Savages
When most people think of ancient Mesoamerican cultures, they picture violent savages who practiced human sacrifice and other unspeakable deeds. However, the recent discoveries at Los Abuelos point to a much more complex, refined culture that engaged in many of the same things we do today. The times might have been different, but based on comparisons to other cultures around the world at the time, they were actually quite advanced in many ways.
More to Discover
The recent discovery at Los Abuelos shows that ancient society in the region was a lot more complicated than we generally gave credit. By unlocking more about the ancient Mayans, we grow our understanding of how their ancient culture worked. The recent discoveries also pointed to the fact that there is still likely a lot to be discovered in the area. Only time will tell! If you liked this article, be sure to check out our site for more!
